October 28, 2005

Virginia Hyatt, wife of former Extension director, dies

VIRGINIA SMITH HYATT, 89, passed away on Oct. 26 in Raleigh. Born in Detroit, Michigan on July 1, 1916, Virginia graduated from Michigan State University. She married George Hyatt Jr., on Sept. 17, 1938. In 1951 she moved with her family to Raleigh after her husband accepted a professorship at N.C. State University, where he later became director of the North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service. Virginia is predeceased by her husband of 55 years.

She is survived by her three sons, Charles Hyatt of Lexington, SC, Martin Hyatt of Charleston, SC, and William Hyatt of Yorktown, VA; three daughters-in law, Patricia, Sarah, Pamela; six grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren and a fifth one on the way. She is also survived by one of her three brothers, Howard Smith of Buffalo Grove, near Chicago.

Virginia was very active with N.C. State University as a faculty spouse. She was an avid sports fan and strong supporter of N.C. State athletics for more than 40 years. She loved to play golf and bridge and was a member of the 1st Church of Christ, Scientist of Raleigh. Mother also loved to travel and did extensive traveling both in the USA and overseas. She will be surely missed by her family and friends.

A service of remembrance will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday at Brown- Wynne Funeral Home, 300 St. Mary's Street in Raleigh.

The family will receive friends from 1-2 p.m. Oct. 29 at the funeral home, prior to the service. Burial is at Raleigh Memorial Park, 7501 Glenwood Ave., US 70 immediately after the memorial.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the George and Virginia Hyatt Extension Award Endowment, NC Agricultural Foundation, Inc. Box 7645, NC State University, Raleigh, NC 27695-7645.